With seven OHSAA state girls basketball titles up for grabs this Friday and Saturday at the University of Dayton Arena let’s take a look at past teams from West Central Ohio who have made it to the Final Four over the years.
Keep in mind that girls basketball was not an officially sanctioned OHSAA sport prior to 1976. Title IX of the US Education Amendments of 1972, a federal law protecting women’s participation in sports by prohibiting discrimination in federally-funded schools, paved the way for girls and women’s sports to be fully recognized, opening up opportunities for many female athletes whose predecessors had sadly been overlooked. Here in Ohio, girls interscholastic sports stopped in the late 1920s and early 1930s for various reasons, denying many the chance to compete and excel.
Since that first state tournament of 1976, sixteen schools from our area have been represented at the highest level of basketball competition here in the Buckeye State. Let’s list them in alphabetical order:
Anna’s Lady Rockets have appeared six times over the years, bringing home state titles in 1981, 2011, and 2013.
The Lady Trojans of Arcanum made back-to-back appearances in 1977 and 1978. Casstown Miami East made the Big Dance in 1997 and 1999.
The Celina Lady Bulldogs made it to Columbus twice, winning it all in 1991. Coldwater’s Lady Cavs have four regional titles, claiming state trophies in 1990 and 1992.
Fort Loramie makes its thirteenth appearance in the Final Four this Saturday at 5:15 trying to add to past honors claimed in 2003, 2013, 2015, and 2021.
Fort Recovery’s Lady Indians have three trips to the Final Four, with back-to-back state titles in 1990 and 1991.
Jackson Center has appeared in four extravaganzas, winning titles in 1995 and 2001. Marion Local has two appearances, winning it all in 2003.
Minster just finished its seventh showing, losing in the semifinals last weekend, but having a display of four trophies from 1998, 2004, 2018, and 2019.
New Knoxville has made it to the elite level twice, appearing in 2007 and 2022, losing in the championship game both times.
New Madison Tri-Village fans had the chance to see the Lady Patriots compete for titles twice, first in 2012 and later compiling an undefeated 30-0 record in 2023 to claim top honors.
Tipp City Bethel was a power in the mid-‘80s, finishing second in ‘85 before winning it all in ‘86.
There must have been something in the air around Tipp City in the mid-‘80s as Tippecanoe’s girls made two trips to the Final Four, finishing second in ‘86 and returning again in ‘87.
Vandalia-Butler caught the magic in 1992 as they appeared in Columbus at St. John Arena.
Versailles’ Lady Tigers have made a total of nine showings at the Final Four, winning titles in 2008 and 2015.
No one can say that high school girls basketball isn’t played at a high level here in West Central Ohio. I know that little girls around the area are out shooting hoops, dreaming of the day that they can take to the hardwood wearing their school’s colors!
Oh, one school I missed—
The 1914 Greenville High School girls basketball team went undefeated and were declared the “Champion of Girls Basket Ball Teams of the State of Ohio”! The 1914 GHS yearbook has a story and picture of the champions clad in neckerchiefs and bloomers gathered around the state trophy ball!!
Good luck to Coach Carla Siegel and the Lady Redskins of Fort Loramie against Waterford Saturday evening!!
